DPH works to prevent illness, injury, and premature death; ensures access to high-quality public health and health care services; and promotes wellness and health equity for all people in the Commonwealth. It provides programs to address specific diseases and conditions and offers services to address the needs of vulnerable populations. DPH also develops, implements, promotes, and enforces policies to ensure that living conditions are most conducive to health and enable people to make healthy choices for themselves and their families.

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) are registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse midwives who have completed specialized education and clinical preparation in the medical forensic care of a patient who has experienced sexual assault or abuse. They are trained and certified as MA SANEs by MDPH.

EOPSS is responsible for the policy development and budgetary oversight of secretariat agencies, independent programs, and several boards that aid in crime prevention, homeland security preparedness, and ensuring the safety of residents and visitors in the Commonwealth. The Access to Forensic Information Program is a program funded by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which is administered through EOPSS. VAWA funds allow for the Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee to have a coordinated response for survivors of sexual violence.

BPD is dedicated to working in partnership with the community to fight crime, reduce fear, and improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods. BPD uses innovative strategies and partnerships to protect everyone in the city.

The Crime Lab provides services to the City of Boston, the MBTA, and several of the colleges and universities in Boston. This unit provides many services, including crime scene processing and evidence preservation, evidence collection, evidence and case review, analysis of evidence and reporting of results, courtroom testimony, in-service training, and various forensic lectures and presentations.

The State Police Crime Lab is a modern forensic sciences facility that provides services such as DNA analysis, fingerprint identification, and chemical analysis of various types of evidence to the Commonwealth’s criminal justice system.

The Suffolk County DA’s Office serves the cities and towns of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, handling more than 35,000 criminal cases each year in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Court. It also offers a wide range of services and programs to help victims and witnesses of crime as well as to educate the public about important crime prevention and safety issues.

BARCC provides free, confidential support and services to survivors of sexual violence ages 12 and up and their families and friends. BARCC works with survivors regardless of when the violence occurred, and its goal is to empower survivors to heal. Services include a 24-hour hotline, 24-hour medical advocacy, individual and group counseling, legal advocacy, and case management. BARCC also works with a wide range of organizations and communities, including schools, colleges, and police, to advocate for change, and provides training in how to respond to survivors and create cultures that prevent sexual violence in the first place. 24-7 hotline: 800-841-8371.

Pathways for Change addresses the impact of sexual violence by providing quality and multicultural services to all persons whose lives have been affected by sexual assault and/or abuse and education geared toward the prevention of violence. Pathways provides comprehensive services to 47 cities and towns in the Greater Worcester, Southbridge/Sturbridge, and Gardner/Fitchburg/Leominster areas. These free and confidential services are offered to any individual over the age of 12 and are offered in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language (all other languages available through the use of interpreters). Services include a 24-hour hotline; emergency room, police station and court accompaniment; safety planning; and group and individual counseling. Their hotline is available 24/7/365 at 800-870-5905.

This project was supported by Grant #2009-WF-AX-0014 awarded by the Violence Against Women Grants Office, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety & Security Office of Grants & Research and subgranted to the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center. Points of view in this document are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice or the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety Programs Division.